Fresno plans no offense changes

[ClassOf81]

Found this on the Fresno Bee website:


Hill will stick to plan for offense

Poor production in loss won't mean big change.

By Andy Boogaard / The Fresno Bee



After reviewing film of a season-low 191-yard output in a third straight loss, Fresno State coach Pat Hill and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti on Sunday remained firm in their stance: Preparation is good and personnel changes won't be made for the final five games.

"There's not going to be any wholesale changes now after the midpoint of the season," said Hill, whose Bulldogs lost 33-16 in a Western Athletic Conference game at Boise State on Saturday night to fall to 3-3. "We don't have time to change a whole bunch of stuff."

His team is represented by largely the same players who won six of seven games to close the 2003 season and their first three this year while earning a No.17 ranking. Among the wins were a 17-9 decision over UCLA in the 2003-ending Silicon Valley Football Classic and 35-16 and 45-21 routs of Washington and Kansas State to open 2004.

"I've got confidence we have the personnel to make plays," Hill said. "There are plays to be made, and we've got players who've made them in the past. It's inconsistent execution, and that's baffling to me."

Cignetti said he takes responsibility for an offense that is averaging 19.3points in the 10-team WAC, in which Fresno State is tied for last with Tulsa with an 0-3 record entering a home game with Southern Methodist (1-6, 1-3) Saturday night. Boise State (7-0, 4-0), which has swept four games from the Bulldogs since joining the WAC in 2001, climbed slightly to No.15 and No.18 in the two major polls.

Against the Broncos, Fresno State executed only 47 plays — 24 fewer than its average — while controlling possession for 22minutes, 29seconds. Boise State had 78 plays and 37:31 in time of possession.

Three-year coordinator Cignetti, repeating a month-long explanation, said: "It's the same old story, I mean honestly, it comes down to making plays. We have to put personnel in position to make plays.

"Our preparation hasn't changed, our teaching hasn't changed, but we're not getting the desired result right now. It's like the old story of the guy who's digging for oil and digging for oil and quits. Then another guy comes along, digs another foot and there's the oil. The oil may be next week against SMU, and it might just be a run of 5-0. Then we're 8-3 and go from there."

Cignetti is a former three-year NFL assistant whose father, Frank, is the highly successful coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. "This has been the hardest month of my life because we've invested three years in what we're doing," he said. "We're not drawing stuff in the dirt. Our core concepts are time-proven here and elsewhere. This is stuff used by Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, Bobby Bowden and my father. We have great preparation. And I'm confident enough to go on the blackboard and coach with anybody in America — period."

Cignetti was asked if personnel is the problem.

"We have to go with the players we have," he said.

Hill said: "I think we do have players to do it, we've just got to get it out of them. Practice is good. We've got to take practice to the game field, but we're not doing that though."

Hill and Cignetti also remained steadfast on an on-going issue: Junior quarterback Paul Pinegar will not be replaced by freshman Tom Brandstater, who continues to make solid throws in practice while redshirting.

Pinegar completed 17-of-30 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions against Boise State. He has six touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in a season that Cignetti said hasn't had the progress he expected from the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder.

"[Brandstater is] not ready," Cignetti said without hesitation. "Does he have the talent? Absolutely. But talent has to be mentally ready to play. And is he really ready for battle? That would not be fair to the kid."

[Thumper]

Hopefully they'll continue to struggle offensively for one more week.

Go PONIES!